Hall, 83, was initially charged with three separate indecent assaults of young girls dating between 1974 and 1984.

He then faced additional charges that he raped a woman in 1976 and committed 14 sexual assaults against 10 girls between 1967 and 1986.

Appearing at Preston Crown Court, Hall, of Prestbury Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, was bailed until his next court date on May 2.

Hall, of Prestbury Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century and was last year awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours.

His eccentric and erudite football match summaries made him a cult figure on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Hall indicated not guilty pleas at an earlier hearing before magistrates in February and then outside court he strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

The former It's A Knockout presenter said he might have considered suicide had it not been for his family and described the accusations as "pernicious, callous, cruel and, above all, spurious" as he vowed to clear his name and restore his reputation.